The Darrow Approach

More than half of high school students in the U.S. believe that the work they do in the classroom has limited relevance in the real world. But not at The Darrow School.

Darrow students and teachers engage in problem-solving across a balanced curriculum, learning how to work with others on projects of value to their community. We are artists, philosophers, entrepreneurs, seekers, and yes, academics. But we share one thing in common: we are contributors.

Darrow prepares students for a lifetime of contribution. It is an enduring gift; one for which our students and alumni express deep gratitude.

Too often, schools mistakenly equate “rigor” with more work. These pressure cooker environments emphasize more AP classes, more SAT prep, more extracurriculars. At Darrow, we believe that students must explore their own passions, learn to ask essential questions, construct meaning, test ideas, and contribute their discoveries to the whole community. Our students embrace diversity in all its forms. They master effective communication with peers and teachers whose backgrounds may be quite different than their own. This is rigor at its most effective: student-centered, with real-world applications, and driven less by rote memorization and more by the acquisition of essential skills.

Darrow alumni are ready for anything, not only because they’ve received a superior liberal arts education, but because they know how to work hard, push boundaries, accept criticism, question assumptions, and solve problems. They have learned how to think, and how to express that thinking purposefully.

Life at Darrow

Curiosity rules the day at Darrow. Our students choose intriguing subjects that stoke their inquisitiveness, then engage with others in exchanges that foster mutual learning. Our curiosity is expressed through the simple choices we make every day: about what questions to ask in Historical Methods class, about how to craft effective dialog for the one-act play you're writing, about which weekend activities to participate in, about perfecting a penalty kick in soccer, and even about who to share lunch with on Thursday. It is the bedrock of a community that values each member and maintains high standards of kindness and acceptance. Our curiosity drives our choices, and our choices shape our best selves.